LOS ANGELES – Half a century after one of baseball’s most patriotic moments, the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated the 50th anniversary of Rick Monday’s heroic flag rescue during Saturday’s game against the Chicago Cubs.
Monday and his spouse Barbaralee displayed the same flag he saved to thunderous applause from the crowd at Dodger Stadium.
The memorable incident occurred on April 25, 1976, when Monday was patrolling center field for Chicago during a game at Dodger Stadium. During the fourth inning, a pair of protesters entered the playing field, laid out an American flag on the grass between left and center field, and poured lighter fluid on it in preparation to set it ablaze.
Monday quickly sprinted toward the demonstrators and grabbed the flag with his right hand before racing away from the scene. He then handed the flag to Los Angeles pitcher Doug Rau as fans erupted in appreciation.
The following inning when Monday stepped into the batter’s box, the stadium scoreboard displayed a message reading: “Rick Monday…You made a great play.”
During Saturday’s ceremony, Marine Corps representatives presented Monday, who served six years in the Marine Corps reserves, with a bronze statue depicting his famous flag-saving sprint.
“I had no idea they were going to be here or present me with an honor. Very humbled,” Monday commented during the game’s radio broadcast.
Both teams formed lines along the baselines for the national anthem, performed by Davis Gaines from “Phantom of the Opera.”
Monday became a Dodger the next season when Tommy Lasorda started his legendary tenure as manager. He contributed to the franchise’s 1981 World Series title and has served as a Dodgers radio announcer intermittently since 1985.
Starting Memorial Day weekend, the preserved flag will go on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Monday has maintained the flag’s condition over the decades and is lending it to the museum for the exhibit.
“What’s very nice is that flag they were trying to desecrate still has a life,” Monday reflected.
